Method and apparatus for forming and attaching slide fastener elements



Feb. 11, 1941. o. FIRING 2,231,286

7 METHOD- AND APPARATUS FOR. FORMING AND 'ATTACHING SLIDE FASTENERELEMENTS Filed July 17. 1937 12 Sheets-Shee't 1 i os'eolewi Fae/Ma an BYM017, vwwaa,

Feb. 11, 1941 0. FIRING V 31,28

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDE FA S'IENER ELEMENTSFiled July 17, 1957 12 Sheei-Sheei; 2

Feb. 11, 1941. o. FIRING 2,231,286

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND A 'ITACHING' SLIDE FASTENERELEMENTS Filed July 17, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR. 05' 809/146 F/em/a BY V ,M 929 4 9' a ATTORNEY? o. FIRING 2,231,286

Feb. 11, 1941.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDE FASTENEH ELEMENTS1'2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 1.7, 1937 BY 2' V 9 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 11, 1941. o. FIRING 2,231,286

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENTSFiled July 17, 1937 12 Sheet-Sheet s Dan ,INVENTOR. OSBaEA/E FMEl/Vq VBY I 7' 3 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 11, 194i. i o FIRING I 2,231,286

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND XTTACHING SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENTSINVEN TOR. 0x308; F/lenvq Feb. 11, 1941; QFI ING 2,231,286

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR-FORMING AND ATTACH'ING YSLIDE FASTENER ELEMENTSFiled July 17, 1 937 12 Sheets -Sheet a 112 1 3. .i-fi- 0 2 I "H 9,7 7378 5 4??? 77 53 7 Z3 0P2? 225 I 1. 3 11 i r 7 235 1 T214 60C 60 I 3 V Iam NIH INVENTOR.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENTS01 Z 30) 2.5, g; "g 1 a I "iiiiiiifi T 297 :li' iiwi W".

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Feb. 11, 1941. I o. FIRING' 31,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENTS I.asaolewfi Fze/w VBY. B,

V )l I H 2 9 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 11,1941. I o. FIRING 2,231,286-

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENTSFiled July 17, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 I i l. i 1?, J

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDE FASTENER ELEMENTSFilgd July '17, 1937 12Sheets-Sheet 12 055 OfiA/E FA G D Van/W2 7,

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. l1,

PATENT 'orr cs METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR- FORMING AND ATTACHING SLIDEFASTENER ELE- MENTS Osborne Firing, New Dorp, Staten Island, N. Y.,assignor to William Strauss, New York, N. Y.

Application July 17, 1937, Serial No. 154,184

39 Claims. (01. 153-1) This invention relates to slide fasteners, moreparticularly to a method of and apparatus for forming interlocking slidefastener elements, and attaching them to carriers, tapes or stringers,

l and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art. I

There have been a number of methods heretofore proposed for producingslide fastener elements from metal stock. There are, in fact,

.many types of fastener elements but the type here considered is theconventional type of rectangula'r block shape having solid headscomprising opposed interfitting or nesting projections and recesses atone end for inter-connec- 5 tion by a gear-toothlike meshing action andspaced clamping jaws at the other end for securing the interlockingelements upon a carrier,

tape or stringer.

According to one known method, the elements 20 are punched from a widesheet of metal stock. This entails obvious waste of stock and has manyother objections.

According to another method, the elements are sliced from the end ofY-bar stock corresponding 25 to the shape of the elements. Here theelements are likely to be deformed because of the large area placed inshear.

According to another method, the elements are swaged from round wirestock and then cutoff 30 in groups and finished,- the wire stock beingapproximately equal to the final cross-sectional size of the elementsbut requiring complete reshaping. This method is subjectto the wellknown objections inherent in swaging operations,

35 particularly as regards very small articles. One great objectionisthat the swaging operation causes considerable elongation of the stockand consequent disorganization between the punching and stock-feeding orother related operations.-

40 Moreover, swaging operations may harden the stock and make subsequentoperations diflicult. According to the present invention, the fastenerelements are formed from wire stock'whichnot only is of across-sectional size substantially 45 equal to that of the finishedelements but of a cross-sectional shape substantially the same as thatof the finished elements. That is, the twocross-sectional dimensions .ofthe wire correspond substantially to two dimensions of the finished 50fastener elements, so that it is only necessary to form jaws andinterlocking portions to pro-* duce finished elements.

According to all of. the methods mentioned above, the elements or blanksare subjectedto 55 major forming operations after they have been severedfrom the stock. Since the elements are so small, it is exceedinglydiflicult to hold and control them for such operations after they havebeen severed from the stock; and it is almost impossible to form perfectelements by such 5 methods. The present invention provides that alloperations in the formation of elements shall be completedv before theelements are severed from the stock and it also provides that theforming operations shall be effected in such manner l0 and with thestock so disposed as to produce elements of a very high quality. 'Theformation of the element heads is particularly important, so it is verydesirable that the heads, at least, shall be completely formed while theelements are still attached to the stock-and this means that nooperation will be performed on the stock in the region of the head afterit has been formed. Even a trimming or parting operation is suiiicientto deform thehead or at least to v cause burrs or raw edges to interferewith the interlocking action of the elements. The present 1 inventionprovides that the heads shall in efiect be molded between a heading dieand punch at the free end of the stock so as to impart to them a perfectshape and that thereafter no operation shall be performed on theelements. in the vicin ity of the heads. i

A feature of the-invention, therefore, consists in the method by whichelements are formed from. preformed wirej stock to provide a saving instock, in operations, and in costs.

Another feature of the invention consists in the improved method of andapparatus for manipulating the elements in carrying them to andattaching them to'carriers or tapes. According to this method theelements are maintained under positive control at all times; are passedto attaching position or. positions and attached to a plurality ofcarriers or tapes whereby to increase 40 production without undulyspeeding up critical operations; and are operated upon as they pass tothe respective tapes. Another feature of the invention resides in theimproved means and methodprovided for spacing the elements on the tapesand for securing space between groups of elements on the tapes.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent to those skilledin the art from the following description of an illustrative embodimentof the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showin the general organizationof apparatus for forming and attaching the fastener elements, partsbeing shown out of proportion for clarity;

the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a plan view, partly in section, taken on the line 8-8 of Figs.6 and 7; j

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 9-8 01' Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view taken on the line ill-i8 of Fig. 9, showing adetail;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, taken on the line Ii-I l of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line lit-I2 of Fig.8;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged partial vertical section taken on the line i3l3of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged partial vertical section taken on the line l4-| lof Fig. 3;

Fig. 15 isa vertical section taken on the line l8--l8oi' Fig. 11;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section taken on the line l6-i8 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 17 is a vertical interior elevation taken on the'line [1-41 of Fig.11;

Fig. 18 is a vertical section taken l8-l8 ofFig. 11;

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken on the line |8-l8'ofFig. 12;

Fi 20 is a vertical section taken on the line 28-28 of Fig. 6;

Fi 21 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2i-2l of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 22 is an enlarged plan view of parts shown in Fig. 8;

on the line Fig. 23 is a plan view illustrating the operations on thewire stock at the element-forming station Fig. 24 is a vertical viewtaken on the line 2l2l of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a plan view illustrating the operations at the elementjaw-spreading station;

Fig. 2615 a vertical section taken on the line 28-46 of Fig. 25; Fig. 27is a plan view illustrating operations'at the element-attaching station;

Fig. 28 is a vertical section taken on the line 28-28 of Fig. 27;

Referring to the drawings..'particularly to Figs.

1 and 2, the invention contemplates the supply of wire stock S which isof rectangular shape with the corners rounded so as to obviate sharpside edges on the finished fastener elements. Preferably the wire isshaped by a previous cold rolling operation so as to have substantiallythe identical cross-sectional size and shape of the finished fastenerelements The invention also contemplates the supply of suitable carriersor tapes T to which the fastener elements E are attached by appropriateJaws on the elements. The tapes are provided with thickened or beadededges adapted to be engaged by the element jaws. I I The machine takesthe wire stock and automatically forms fastener elements from it andthereafter secures the formed elementson the carriers orQtapes. This isaccomplished without losing control of the elements at any time; thatis, the elements are never collected loosely in bulk so as to requirerearrangement, as would be necessary, for example, if the elementsweretumbled to remove sharp edges. This is permissible because of the factthat the wire stock has such a shape and the elements are formed from itin such a manner that the finished elements do not ations are completedwhile the forward end of the wire stock, or what in effect is theforward fastener element E on the wire stock, is positioned in a diecarried by a transfer member. The transfer member, here exemplified asthe slide 30 having reciprocatory movement in a straight line, carries aplurality of heading dies DI, D2 (two, as shown) and moves like ashuttle to carry alternately formed elements to alternate attachingstations Al or A2. Appropriate tapes T are fed upward under tension atthe two attaching stations.

The elements as formed are engaged in the dies of the slide or shuttleonly at their head .ends, leaving their clamping Jaws protruding clearof the edge of the slide. Moreover, as formed, the

clamping jaws of the elements are in closed posi-;

or A2 the Jaws of the elements are spread apart at the jaw-spreadingstations J i or J2. In the present embodiment of the invention the.elements are'not halted at the stations J l, J2. but are operated uponas they move past these stations.

At the attaching station the elements are halted with their open jaws infront of the beaded edge of a tape. By'suitable movement the laws arethen made to straddle the beaded edge of the tape, whereupon the jawsare squeezed together to clamp them to the tape. Either the element orthe tape or both may be moved to secure proper disposition forattachment but in the machine herein illustrated the tape is movedlaterally.

Preferably the forming mechanism at a single element forming station ismade to serve a plurality of attaching stations. Ample, time is thusprovided for the intermittent forward feed of the tapes This isparticularly advantageous when feeding the tapes forward a considerabledistance for blank spaces 'between groups of elements, that is, duringthe jump feed. The spaced groups of elements on the tapes are indicatedin Fig. 1. If it were necessary to stop or slow up the operation of themachine for spacing, theoutput would be greatly. curtailed, but by theemployment of a plurality of attaching stations for a single formingstation an ample period is-allowed for feeding the tapes and the outputper unit of machiner floor space and operators is enhanced.

In the present embodiment the elements as formed are alternatelytransferred to alternate attaching stations. While an. element is beingattached to-a tape at one attaching station, another element is beingcompleted at the forming other attaching station.

station and the tape is being fed upward at the In Fig. 2 the'operationsat the forming station I and at the, jaw-spreading and attachingstations on one side of the forming station are illustrated on anenlarged scale. It is to be understood-that the mechanism on the otherside is identical with that shown in Fig. 2,. so the illustration ofparts on one side will serve for both. Reference may also be made todiagrammatic Figures 23 to 28.

Assuming that wire stock has been fed in and operations begun, the firstoperation on the stock is performed by the heading punch 32 to form theinterlocking recess or cavity el in the upper surface of the forwardelement E and the corresponding projection e2 where the metal extrudedin forming the recess flows into the depression of the heading die DIon' the shuttle bar or slide 30. The metal of the projection is pressedso firmly into-the depression of the heading die that the element tendsto remain in the die after the heading punch is withdrawn. But in orderto hold the element firmly in the heading die during the headingoperation and to hold the formed element in the die on the slide whileit is being transferred from the. forming station, there is provided ahold-down member 31 carried on the front end of a clamping plate 251(Fig. 22) later to be described. The hold-down member 31 engages thewire stock immediately behind the portion at the end on which the headrecess and projection are to be formed, that is, on the body and) jawsof'the forward embryo element on the wire stock, and holds it downduring the heading and parting operations; then continues to engage andhold the formed element as it leaves the forming station and until it isengaged and held by suitable means at the jaw-spreading position.

The wire stock is held forward to prevent rearward movement which mightbe caused by the action of the heading punch, through the action ofcooperating gripping devices 34 and 35 provided with sharpened V-shapedribs or knives for engaging the stock. The lower gripping device 34 isfixedin position but the upper device 35 is adapted to bepressed-downward just before and tion which will be subsequently removedor they located accurately at either the front ormay be rear end of theelements where they will assist in the operation by which the elementsare severed from the stock. If located at the end of an element thenicks or notches, being V-shaped, produce a rounded or chamfered edge orat least avoid burrs or sharp edges on the elements. If 1 located at thefront end they may be made arcuate in shape to correspond to the arcuateshape of the nose e3 at the edge of the recess el in the head of theelement.

After; the head of the forward element E has been formed, a partingpunch 40 operates to sever the forward element from the" wire stock. Atabout the same time a piercing punch 4| operates to form an elongatedjaw aperture e4 in. an

' embryo element locatedat a point behind the forward element on thestock. When the parting punch 40 operates it not only severs the forwardspread them apart.

. between a viously formed aperture e4 to the rear end of the element,thus completely disconnecting the jaws e5 from jaws are not spread apartat this time but are formed and left in substantially the identicaldisposition they have when clamped on the tape.

The wire stock is fed along a tapered groove 42 of a lower clampingplate 256 beneath a rib 258 formed on the upper clamping plate 251 (Fig.19) The stock is engaged when clamped adjacent the forming punches byspring-pressed stripper plungers43 and 46, Fig. 12. The lower plunger 46is provided with a spring and means to limit its upward movement. Theupper plunger 43 is provided with aleaf spring 44 and means to' limitvits downward movement. The spring 44 is secured to the clamping plate251 by The plungers 43 and 45 serve to remove the stock from the ribs orknives of the stock-gripping devices 34 and 35 when they are withdrawnso as to prevent the stock from being drawn across the knives to dullthem during feeding movement of thestock.

-After an element E has been completed and released from the formingtools at the forming station F it is carried by the slide toward one ofthe attaching stations Al or A2. On the way it enters beneath aretaining plate '48 and while thus held in the heading die on the slideby the each other at the rear end. The

screws 45.

retaining plate with the ends of .its jaws e6 protruding, it passes ajaw-spreading position J i oi J2. Here it encounters a V-shapedjaw-spreading wedge 49 which enters between the jaws to The wedge 49 ismounted on an oscillatable head 50 carried by a vertical shaft 5| soasto move in unison This coordinated movement of the wedge 49 may besecured by the interaction of a gear 52 on the shaft 5| with a meshingrack 53 carried by the slide.

After the element passes the jaw-spreading station it will clear the endof the retaining plate 48 and comes to a stop beneath a holddown plate56. The plates 48 and 56 are placed close together so as to retain theelement on the slide at all times. As soon as the element comes to astop the plate 56. is firmly pressed downward, for example by' ahold-down plunger 51 to clamp the head of the element to the slide. Theelement is thus held securely against displacement or tilting in the dieduring its attachment to the tape, insuring that it will be properlydisposed on the tape.

After the element has taching position the tape T is moved over toposition the beaded edge thereof between the jaws of the element. Thisis effected by a tapeshifting member 58 which is mounted upon or formedintegrally with a tape-shifting slide 59. The hold-down plate 56 may beformed with a recess 560. on its upper surface to receive the head of anelement which has previously been attached to the tape. The tape is heldtaut tape tension device 60 and a tapefeeding drum 6! on a tape feedingshaft 62 so that the edge of the tape normally stands clear of the endsof the'elementjaws. The tapeshifting member forms a bow in the tape whenmoving it over to the jaws.

with the element.

The-tapeeshifting slide 59 also carries a pair open by relatively strongtension springs 65 (Fig. 16) secured to the rear ends of the levers.

Any suitable means may be provided for operating the tape-shifting slideand the clamping levers. The means shown comprises (Figs. 9 and 11) acam lever mounted on a fixed journal H and provided at its upper endwith a V-shaped the slope of the V-shaped cam 12 are so selected thatthecam will first move the slide 58 over until it is halted by engagementof the member 14 with the stop block '15, after which further movementof the cam 12 will cause the clamping ends of the levers to close uponthe jaws of the fastener element to clamp them to the tape.

As shown in Fig. 9 the clamping levers 63 are retained on the pivotshaft 64 by a'lower sleeve 16 and an upper sleeve 11. An uppertape-shifting member 18 is clamped to the upper sleeve 11 and cooperateswith the lower tape-shifting member 58 to keep the bowed section of thetape at the element jaws in vertical alignment.

The slide 59 may be moved back to its outer position after an elementhas been attached by any suitable means, as for example, by the springs18 attached to the levers I53v carried by the slide and to the upperendof the lever 10. The tapes may be fed in over grooved guide rolls 80,Fig. 3. The operating parts of the machine (Fig. 7)

are driven froma cam shaft 82 mounted in the main frame 83 and connectedwith a. source of power by a sprocket M on the cam shaft and a drivebelt or chain 84. By driving all .parts from a single shaft, veryaccurate coordination of action may -be-achieved.- This is veryimportant in making elements with a good finish. In the presentembodiment, for each revolution of the cam shaft two fastener elementsare formed at the forming station F and one element is attached at eachof the attaching stations Al, A2.

There are two punch heads; as shown in Fig. 6, one for the heading punch32 and another 86 for the parting punch 40 and the piercing The headingpunch head 85, as shown in Fig. 13, is mounted upon guide rods 81. It isoperated by a link 88 and a bell crank lever .88 from a cam secured tothe cam shaft 82. Thebell crank lever is pivoted upon a shaft 8| carried(Fig. '7) by upstanding brackets 92 constituting part of the fixed frameof the machine.

The parting and piercing punch head 86, as shown in Fig. 13, is mountedon guide rods 81. The head 86 is also operated through its guide rods 91by links 08 attached to arms I02 mounted upon a rock shaft IOI actuatedby a cam I03 on the cam shaft 82. The rock shaft I0l is mounted ondepending brackets-I04. One of the arms I02 carries a laterally disposedcam follower I02a cooperating with the face groove of the cam I03.

The lower ends of the cam. levers 10 for the V-shaped spreading cams 12at the element attaching stat ons, as shown in Fig. 9, are provided withcam rollers I01 which ride on cams I08 secured to the cam shaft 82. Thecam rollers are held against their respective cams by springs I08.

The plunger rod 36 for operating the stock grip;

per device 35, as shown in Fig. 6, is urged upward by a coil spring II2. The upper headed end of the plunger rod 36, as shown in Fig. 20, isrecessed to receive the rounded end of a removable push rod II3, theupper end of which is likewise rounded to fit into a socket in the lowerheaded end of an adjusting screw H4 threaded into an arm'l'I5 clamped toa rock shaft H6. The rock shaft II 6, Fig, 3, is mounted in upstandingbrackets II1, At one end, as shown in Fig. 5, an arm H8 is secured tothe rock shaft H6 and this arm is connected to a link I I9 attached to acam arm I20. The cam arm I20 is pivoted to a shaft I2I and is providedwith a cam roller I22 operated by a cam I23 on the cam shaft 82. Thelink H0 is provided with a break joint I24 which permits the link 'I I9to be shortened and the push rod II 3 to be quicklyremoved from theplunger rod 36 and the adjusting screw I I 4 when desired withoutdisturbing the adjustment of its connections. This is convenient inremoving the punch head 86, it being noted that the plunger rod 36 isslidably mounted in the punch head 86 and must be disconnected beforethe head can be removed.

As shown in Fig. 3, the wire stock S is fed into friction rolls I3I. Therolls are secured to shafts The shafts I32 are rotatably mounted in afixed frame I34 and provided with ratchet gears I35. As shownin Fig. 14,the ratchet gears I35 are operated by pawls I36 secured to rods I31carried by a feed slide I88. The pawls may be spring pressed towardtheir, respective ratchet gears. The feed slide I38 operates betweenguide rollers I39 mounted on the frame I34. At its lower edge the feedslide I38 is provided with a rack I40 operated by a gear segment I Mformed on a rocking lever I'42 The lever I42 is mounted on a shaft I43and is operated by a link I44 connected to one arm of a bell crank leverI45. The other arm of the bell crank lever I45 is provided with ato thecam shaft 82. The cam roller is kept in engagement with the cam by aspring I48, The bell crank lever I45 is mounted on a shaft I49 supportedby brackets I50. This mechanism provides a very positive and accuratefed of the wire stock. If the stock feed mechanism tends to overfeed thestock its forward end is stopped by engagement with the back wall of therecess in one of the heading dies and the feed rolls will slip on thestock.

The tape-feeding drums GI on the shaft 62 are provided with drivinggears I55 which drive them in a forward direction.

. mounted, as shown on the right of Fig.3, in tubular supports I58.

The tape-f eding shaft is driven by dual feed ing mechani ms, One may becalled the normal feeding mechanism for, producing the normal spacingbetween individual elements, and the other may be called the jump-feedmechanism for producing the pump space between groups of elements on thetape.

The drums may be so I mounted on the shaft that they can be turned 25the machine by staggered grooved rolls I30 and cured to an adjustablelink I9I connected at its.

- mounted on the shaft I51 at one side of the ratchet I59 and this armis provided with a pawl I64 cooperating with the ratchet on one side ofthe shaft axis. A spring I55 may be employed to hold the pawl toward theratchet.

At its outer, end the arm I12 is pivotally connected to an adjustablelink I13. At its lower end the link I13 is pivotally connected to ablock I19 mounted in a slot in a cam arm I15 pivoted on the shaft I2I.Means are provided for securing the 1 r block I14 at any selected pointalong the slot to The outer end of manner and means vary the stroke ofthe feed arm I12. The cam arm I15 is provided'with a cam roller I11operatingupon a cam I18 secured to the cam shaft 82. A spring I19maintains the cam roller I11 in engagement with the cam. Throughthismecm anism the tape at one'of the attaching stations is fed upwardone space for each revolutionof the cam shaft 92 The tape at the otherattaching station is similarly fed forward but in alternation with thefeed of the first tape.

It will be understood that the jump feed mechanism does not operateregularly, that is, at each rotation of the cam shaft; but ratheroperates intermittently after a given number of fastener elementscomprising a group has been secured to the tape. When the desired numberof elements has been secured to the tape, certain trip mechanism isactuated to cause the jump feed mechanism to operate. After eachoperation'the jump feed mechanism is returned to rest-and conditionedfor the next intermittent operation.

Preferably the tripping of the jump feed mechanism is controlled byelectrical means under the supervision of number registering orautomatic counting mechanism. By the means herein-provided the number ofelements in a group may be changed in an instant simply by adjusting thesetting of the counter. Of course, the use of the counter-controlledelectro-mechanical tripping mechanisms is well known in this and manyrelated arts but the present invention is believed to provide distinctimprovements, particularly in the for securing smooth accurate operationof the feeding mechanism and inthe novel combination and function of thepresent mechanism.

The trip control mechanism, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, may comprise aunit counter I89 of the re-set subtracting, or cancelling type, actuatedat each rotation of the cam shaft as each fastener element is attached,by a link I operated by an eccentric device I95 on the shaft 82. Throughsuitable contacts and controls (not shown) the counter I89 causesactuation of a tripping solenoid I81 when a predetermined number offastener elements comprising one group has been secured to the tape.

The jump feed mechanism, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, includes an arm 190provided with a hub rotatably mounted on the shaft I51 on the oppositeside of the ratchet I59 from the arm I12 for normal feed, and the armI90 is provided with 'a pawl I68 cooperating with the ratchet on theside of the shaft axis opposite the normal feed pawl I89. A spring I61may be employed to hold the the arm I98 is pivotally se- I93 by anadjusting screw I94,

given. However,

5 sothat the counter registers 'in which the normal pawl I96 toward theratchet.

lower end to a block I92. The block I92 is mounted in the slot of a cam'arm I93 pivoted on the same shaft I2l as that on which the slotted camarm I15 for normal feed is mounted. The block I92 may. be adjusted alongthe slot in the arm to vary the stroke of the arm and thus to vary thelength of the space between The cam arm I93 may be provided with a camfollower I95 cooperating with a cam I95 secured to the cam shaft 92. Aspring I91 'urges the cam follower I95 towards its cam I95.

The end of the cam arm I93 is provided with an adjustable trip catch I98cooperating with a trip latch I99 operated by the solenoid I81. The

latch is-normally urged into a positiombeneath the catch but iswithdrawn when ergized through the counter I84. Ari adjustable stopscrew 209 is provided for limiting the outward movement of thetrip'latch I99.

The solenoid I81 is energized whilethe. portion I96a of the jump-feedcam I95 is positioned beneath the cam follower I95; conse quently thecam follower always cam without any drop whatsoever. This avoids noiseand wear. After engagement the cam follower rides upon the cam for afull revolution and is thereafter automatically latched again in itsuppermost position.

It may be here noted, as may be observed from the relative positions ofcams 019 and I95 and their'respective cam followers I11 and I95 in Fig..4, that after the jump-feed impulse is given to release the camfollower I95 upon the highest part. I96a. of its cam I98, a fastenerelement will be attached to the tape while the cam follower I95 ridesdown the slope of the cam. But during the down stroke of the camfollower I95 and the cam arm I93 no feed of the tape is produced, as maybe observed from the ratchet construction in Fig. 4. There is thus onemore fastener element in the previous group than was registered by thecounter when-the jump-feed impulse was this is compensated for by reasonof the fact that the normal feed mechanism operates every revolution andthe cam I19 is positioned to actuate the cam follower I11 to feed thetape through a normal space after the completion of the jump-feedmovement effected by and during the elevation of the cam follower I95to'its uppermost position by the high portion I960; of the cam we. I

The counter eccentric I96 also operates at every revolution of the camshaft 92 and approximately at the same time that the normal feedingmechanism is operated by the cam I19, the application of one fastenerelement before the element is actually applied. This compensates for theelement which is applied after the jump-feed impulse is given andinsures that the proper number of elements is placed in each group. Asimple way of describing the operation is to say that the elements arecounted before they are applied. This permits the operation of thetrip-feed mechanismlduring the same part of the cycle as that feedmechanism operates and, furthermore, permits operation of the nor malfeeding mechanism and the element applying mechanism during each periodin which two elements are being formed at the forming station, that is,in the illustrative embodiment, at every-revolution of the cam shaft. Anadvantage in permitting the normal-feed the solenoid is en high iengages the 25 groups of elements on the stringer.

or step-feed mechanism to operate after the periodic or jump-feedmechanism operates-in addition toavoiding the necessity of halting itsoperation-is to insure that the clutch rollers and other partsassociated with the normal-feed mechanism will be returned to properposition for the next spacing operation.

Means are provided for re-setting the counter I84 for each group offastener elements applied and for counting the groups. As shown in Fig.4, this means comprises-a re-set arm 206 secured to -the jump-feed camarm I83 and provided with an arcuate rack 206 meshing with a gear 281 onthe re-set shaft 208 of the unit counter I84. A group counter 288 may beoperatedfrom the arm 206 through a link 2"). The re-setv mechanismreturns the unit counter I84 to an initial condi-' tion after each groupof elements has been secured to the carrier and at the same time reg.-

isters the group as -a unit on the group counter In addition to the feedadjustment providedby the tape feeding mechanism just described, a

slight additional adjustment may be made by varying the tension in thetapes. Assumingthe tapes to be made of slightly resilient material whichtends to reassume its original length after temporary stretching,it,will be understood that the greater the tension in ,the tape whenelements are applied the shorter willbe their spacing after the tension'is relieved and the tape returns to its normal length,

The means herein provided for this purpose comprises the tape-feedingdrums GI and the tape-tension device 68 previously referred to. In orderto carry the tape positively with the drum,

the latter, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, is provided with acircumferential row of short sharp replaceable pins 213 which engage thetape beas'shown, in Fig. 21.

hind the elements. Presser rolls 2" may also be used to hold the tapefirmly against the drum, These presser rolls may ride upon the ends ofthe pins 2l3 to force the pins into the tape. To avoid injury to thepins,

the rolls 2i1'ma'y be made of a soft material such asflbre. In order tovary the tension in the tape, the tape-tension device comprises (Figs.

screw 224; the adjusting bar 223 in turn being 9 and 10), two plates 60aand 68b hingedtogether by a pin 680. The plates are pressed together onthe tape by leaf springs 2I4 secured in the end of a tension-adjustingslide H5. The

slide may be moved axially in its guides by an adjusting screw 2I8 atthe outerend. By moving the springs 2 toward the tension device 88 thetension on the tape is increased and by mov ing them away the tension isdiminished.

Means are provided for regulating the position a of the retaining plates48 at the jaw spreading stations J1 and J2 and for mounting thehold downplates 56 at the element applying station's AI and A2. This mechanism isshown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9. Here it will be seen that a support issecured to a slide adjusting'bar 223 by a secured to the main frame byscrews 226. On

each side of the support 222 there is mounted a pivoted member 226. Theparts on each side of the support- 222 are alike so a description of onewill serve for both.

The member 226 is mounted upon a pivot pin m and at its rear end isengaged b'y'adjusting screws 228 and 229 mounted in the support 222above and below the pivot pin 22! respectively. Clamping .screws 238passing through oversized holes in the pivoted member 226' are adapted.to

secure the member 226. firmly in adjusted positions to the side of thesupport 222. The retaining plate 48 is secured to the front end of thepivoted member 226, as shown in Fig. 8.

As shown in Figs. 8. and 9, the pivoted member 226 is provided'with alateral extension 233 to.

acts upon the head of the plunger. The plunger 61 is lifted clear of theplate 66 when the punch .head "withdraws and is brought down on theplate when the punch head descends, as when forming the head of afastener element at the forming station.

Means are provided for maintaining the die slide 30 in proper position.This is important because the fastener elements are very small veryaccurately in position the fastener elements will be imperfect. As shownin Figs. 7 and 9, the slide 38 operates in close fitting guides in themain frame 83. The slide is thickened in'the die operating portion andslides upon the inclined upper surface 24211 of a bed plate 242. The bedplate 242 is also provided with a horizontal upper surface 242?)disposed below the slide adjusting bar 223 previously mentioned. The bedplate 242 may be moved to maintain the slide against the'upper surfaceof its guides by anadjusting screw 243 threaded in an upstanding bracket244 secured to the main frame 83. The slide adjusting bar 223 may beadjusted in position against the back of the slide 38 by an adjustingscrew246 which is also threaded in the bracket 244. After adjustmentboth the slide adjusting bar 223 and the bed plate 242 on which it restsare securely anchored to the main frame by the screws 225 previouslymen- .and if the dies on the slide are not maintained tioned. The slideadjusting bar 223 on its front face is provided with a hold-down rib223a entering a corresponding groove in the rear face of .the slide 30.This prevents the slide from tilting up at the rear edge and down at thefront edge when the head punch. operates.

The heading dies DI and D2 may be retained on the slide by any suitablemeans. As shown in Figs. 7, and 8, the means hereby provided comprisesthe clamping plate 241 and the clamping screws 248 securing the plate tothe slide.

The. slide 30 may be operated by any suitable means. As shown in Fig. 7,the slide is provided with a cam follower roller 268 operating in the.circumferential groove of a drum-type cam 25! secured to the cam shaft82. The cam 2 is provided with two opposed straight portions 26m and twoopposed inclined portions 26lb. While the cam follower-268 is located inthe straight portions 25: of the groovesthe slide is held stationary forthe heading andattaching operations; and while the cam follower islocated in the inclined portions 26"; of the groove the slide isbeingmoved endwise for thesucceeding operations. To insure accuracy oflocation when the slide is halted, the drum of the cam 2,"

may be proyided with straight knives or .ribs

operations.

25|c entering notches 30b formed-in the lower surface of the slide 30.

The punches and certain associated devices at the element formingstation F have alreadyvbee'n described. There is also located at theforming station, certain stock'holding mechanism and other parts whichwill now be described.

vThe stock holding mechanism comprises (Figs. 12 and 19)associatedplates 256 and 251. The lower plate 256 is provided with thetapered groove 42 already referred to for receiving the .wire stock S.The upper plate 251 isprovided with the rib 258 disposed within thegroove 42.

The lower plate 256 is secured to a die block 263 by screws 259 (Fig.11) keys 260 and 26| also being employed, if desired, to hold the plate256 securely in place. The forward end of the lower plate abuts againsta piercing die 262 which is firmly anchored in the die block 263 securedto the main frame (Fig. 6) by screws 264. The

piercing die, of course, cooperates with the piercing punch 4 It isprovided that the upper stock clamping plate 251 will have a slightrocking movement" on the lower plate 256 in order that the front end ofthe plate 251 may be moved down to more closely engage the stock duringelement forming As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the lower plate 256 nearits outer end and in suitable transverse grooves is provided with raisedrocke ribs 261 and the upper plate 251 is provided with cooperatinghardened rocker plates 268 securedin transverse recesses in the plate byscrews 269. I

The plates 256, 251 are normally urged apart at their front ends by oneor more embracing springs 21!] at their rear ends. The plate 251 isprevented from rising too high at its front end by the heads ofretaining screws 21'! secured in the lower plate 256. The stock grippingdevices, 34 and 35 are firmly secured, as by heat shrinking orotherwise, in the respective plates 256 and 251; consequently when theplunger 36 presses ,down on the gripping device 35 it moves the frontend of the plate 251 down also.

A parting die 212 (Fig. 12 is secured to the with the die block 263 inposition to cooperate parting punch 66. y

In operation, the wire stock S is-fed forward at each turn of the camshaft ,82. At each turn of the shaft all of the element forming devicesare operated to completely form and sever two elements. 'It is true thatsome of the operations are performed upon embryo elements which areappreaching the finishing position but every operation required to forman element is performed in one forming period. The shape of the stocksupplied and the nature and sequence of operations projection e2 of themachine provide for this beneficial result.

At the time the stock is fed it is free of fall holding and formingmechanism so as to be moved without resistance; and the slide 30 is heldstationary with one of the heading dies DI or D2 in position to receivethe front end of the stock.

After'the stock has been fed forward, the front end of the upper stockholding plate 251 isforced down by the plunger 36 to closely confine thestock and grip it between the gripping devices 36 and 35. This causesthe stripper plungers 43 and 46 to be pushed back against theirrespective springs.

The heading punch 32 now acts through descent of the press head 85 toforma head recess. el and.

on the forward end of the stock. 'Iheelement isstill connected with thebody of.

, the heading punch 32 and the gripping devices 34 and 35 are still inengagement with the stock.

The punches 32, 40 and 4| are withdrawn; but for a short time thereafterwhile the finished element begins its transfer movement with the slide30 and until the head of the element enters beneath one of the retainingplates 48, the plate 251 is still held down by the plunger 36 to keepthe hold-down member in engagement with the finished element. Thereafterthe plunger 36 retracts and permits the front end of the plate 251 torise to release the stock, the action of the plate 251 causing thismovement. During this action the stripper plungers move out under theaction of their springs to strip the stock from and hold it clear of theknives of the gripping devices 34 and 35. i

Between the time when the element is formed at the forming station F andthe timeit is attached at an attaching station A! or A2, the jaws arespread atone of the jaw spreading stations Jl or J2. In theabove-described embodiment this is accomplished while the element is inmotion by a spreading wedge 49 which turns in synchronism with themovement of the element. When the elementis halted at an attachingstation its head is securely clamped in the die on the slide by thehold-down plate56, the plunger 51 descending with the heading punch head35 for this purpose. An element is thus being secured to a tape at oneofthe attaching stations v while another element is being formed at theforming station. During the same time the tape is being fed forwardatthe other attaching station. This provides extra time for the tape-49, 18 until its beaded edge enters the jaws,

-whereupon the clamping levers 63 are operatedto As the lever 10 andclose the jaws on the tape. wedge 12 withdrawtheclamping levers 63 areopened by the springs 65 and the tape is pulled back by'the members 49,18 through the action of connecting springs 1 9.

will have been released from the hold-down plate 56. The tape is thenfed upward by rotation of the. tape-feeding drums 6|. The tape-feedingaction is very positive because of the engagement therewith by the pins2|3 on the drum 6|. The

of spring 216 on the rear end is pushed over by the members The elementjust attached pins 2l3 are separately attached to the drum so as to bereplaceable if worn, broken or bent.

The tape-feeding mechanism for normal or step feed and for periodic orjump feed has been described in detail so its operation will be clearwithout further explanation. Also the other details of the apparatus andthe operation thereof will be clear from the above description.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides distinct improvementsin the method and-apparatus for forming and attaching slide fastenerelements as well as in the elements themselves.

By supplying stock of th'eshape disclosed and operating upon it in themanner described it is blanks being lost.

At the forming station the stock is not increased in size in any lateraldirection thus simplifying the guides anditools necessary for holdingand forming the elements. I

. The heads of the elements are formed while the elements are stillattached to the stock whereby the stock may be securely held while theheads are formed. Due to this and the fact that no operations areperformed on the stock in the region of the heads after they have beenformed,

.it is possible to produce substantially perfect heads which will havesmooth easy action in use. The stock holding mechanism has manyadvantages in operation and may be taken apart almost instantaneouslyfor repair, replacement or cleaning.

The elements are formed with a minimum waste of stock, only the partingand piercing One complete element is formed for each stroke of the punchpresses, insuring rapid and economical production.

The elements are formed individually directly from the stock thusavoiding parting or other forming operations on small pieces of stock.The

v only operation required after the elements leave the forming stationare the jaw spreading and clamping operations.. These are not formingbut shaping operations and cause no permanent distortion of theelements. Moreover, they are light operations so that it is notdiflicult to hold the elements properly therefor.

The jaw-spreading operation is performed between the forming andattaching stations so as not to interfere with operations at eitherstation. This simplifies the mechanisms required at these stations.

One forming station supplies a number of attaching stations. Thisincreases the permissible time for normal and Jump feed of the tape,avoiding delay or improper operation for the criticaltape-feedingoperation.

The specific jaw-spreading mechanism provided is extremely simple andrapid and efiicient in its operation. 'The attaching mechanism also isvery simple I and rapid and eificient in its operation.

The tape feeding'mechanism provided is accu rate and rapid in operationand does not interfere with or delay the normal operations of themachines. It also operates easily and with mini-'- mum noise. Thespecial counters and trippers and feed adjustments provided enable theoperator to change the feed, spacing, or number of elements in a groupalmost instantaneously.

The stock feeding mechanism operates positivelybut without thepossibility of marring the stock or breaking the feeding mechanism. The

, provision of staggered sets of smooth and-grooved adjusting thecarrier or slide on ments are partly formed and by which they are.

feed rolls insures that no fins will-be formed on the stock.

The means provides for mounting, moving and which the eletransferredinsuresaccurate positioning of the diescarried thereon and providessmooth controlled operation.

The enumeration of the above advantages is not I intended to excludeothers which inhere in the invention or in the illustrative embodimentthereof which has been disclosed. It is to be understood that theinvention' is not limited exceptby the prior art and the scope of thesubjoined claims. l

Iclaim:

1. The method 'of forming slide fastener elements of the block typehaving nesting heads and clamping jaws aligned with the heads, whichcomprises, providing wire stock having substantially the exactcross-sectional size and shape of the finished elements, gripping thewire stock a short distance behind its' forward end to hold it againstbackward movement by means forming nicks therein but said nicks beinglocated at points which will lie off the elements formed from the wirestock, forming a head on the embryo element at theforward end of thewire stock,

piercing the wire stock to form embryo jaws for an element behind theheaded element, and severing the headed element from the wire stock anddisconnecting. the jaws of the headed element at their rear ends.

2. The method of forming slide fastener elements, each having a head anda single pair of jaws, comprising in combination, feeding into a headingdie the forward end of a strip of wire stock having partially formed orembryo elements thereon, forming a head on the forward end of theforward element on the wire stock, and subsequently severing the headedelement from the wire stock while holding the head of element in theheading die.

3. The method of forming slide fastener elements, each having a head anda single pair of jaws, comprising in combination, forming a head on theforward end of a strip of wire stock having thereon embryo elements,while the end of the wire is disposed in. a die on-a transfer device,severing the headed element at the end of the'wire from the wire stockto leave the headed element in the die with its jaws protruding, and.

transferring the finished element from the forming position with the dieon the transfer device. 4. The method of forming slide fastenerelements, each having a head and a single pair of jaws, comprising incombination, forming a head on the forward end of a strip of wire stockhaving thereon embryo elements, while the end of -;the wire' stock isdisposed at a forming station in a die on a transfer device, severingthe headed element from the end of the wire stock to leave the headedelement-in the die with its jaws protruding, transferring the finished,element by the transfer device to an attaching station, and spreadingthe. jaws of the element between the forming station and the attachingstation.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, further characterized by. thefact that the jaws of the element are spread, while the element is inmotion.

6. The method of forming and attaching slide fastener elements, whichcomprises, formingthe head, on an elementin a transfer die while the.element is still integrallyattached to a strip ofstock, severing theelement from. the strip, transferring the element in the transfer die,and attaching the element to a tape while the head is still in thetransfer die.

7. The method. of forming and attaching slide fastener elements, whichcomprises, successively

